The Transfer Tavern

Leeds reveal omissions with latest squad numbers

Leeds United have been largely frustrated during the transfer window as they look to try and turn their squad into challengers for a Premier League spot.

Marcelo Bielsa has been working hard to try and bring recruits to the club this summer as he prepares his side for their upcoming Championship campaign, however, he has struggled to convince anyone to join on a permanent basis.

The Whites are expected to complete a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderer’s Barry Douglas imminently, however, they have only managed to sign Chelsea duo Lewis Baker and Jamal Blackman to season-long loan deals at the moment.

Bielsa has been successful in offloading a number of players this summer, however, that appears to have made the squad look a little thin in areas, but he could be prepared to let even more of his players depart from Elland Road.

Joe Urquhart has revealed on Twitter that a number of players were not handed a squad number for the upcoming season, which has led to suggestions that the players may be shifted on before the end of the deadline.

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post journalist, there were a few “big” omissions from the list with the likes of Caleb Ekuban, Vurnon Anita, Eunan O’Kane, Yosuke Ideguchi, Hadi Sacko and Luke Murphy.

The Verdict:

It does not come as a surprise that a number of the names mentioned have not been handed a shirt number for the upcoming season.

Bielsa has made it clear since he arrived that he had three different groups of players and almost all of them featured in a group that he did not consider to be part of his plans.

There may be a surprise with the inclusions of Anita and Ideguchi, however, as both were expected to be given a chance to try and prove themselves to the Argentine and force their way into the first-team.